Starting kettlebell exercises for a noob?

If I don't get a 35 pounder for my birthday, I'll be picking one up for myself tomorrow. I've done a few exercises with them in a kyokushin dojo I was previously training at, but if I'm going to get into it seriously at home, what would you lot say are the ones that you have to start on? On some searching, I've found that swings are pretty much essential, but that seems to be the only consensus.

Swing, overhead press, lunge... Anything you can do holding a dumbell you can do with a kettlebell. Those are the ones I do when I get a chance, 'till I learn how to clean and snatch. Get the Kyokushin dojo to teach you how to use 'em.

Lord Krishna said: I am terrible time the destroyer of all beings in all worlds, engaged to destroy all beings in this world; Of those heroic soldiers presently situated in the opposing army, even without you none will be spared.Bhagavad Gita 11:32

I wouldn't recommend bent presses or snatches to noobs. For the bent press, you need to be able to do the side press and windmill first and for snatches, you need to build up the shoulder endurance with getups first. Also, you shouldn't do snatches before you have the technique for cleans down first.

I wouldn't recommend bent presses or snatches to noobs. For the bent press, you need to be able to do the side press and windmill first and for snatches, you need to build up the shoulder endurance with getups first. Also, you shouldn't do snatches before you have the technique for cleans down first.

While I should have said 'learn technique first' - that's generally the first thing that should be covered in any weight program and would be excessive to state; having said that - kettlebell cleans and snatches are quite different from their barbell variants; not nearly as technical and not nearly as difficult at lighter weights; the explosive power requirement is vastly different as well. Also, the bent press, snatch, clean, side press, windmill, etc, can all be learned at light weight with relative ease by a healthy individual. Just takes practice.

With that in mind then, all I really have to say, in regards to my original post:

Start light and learn technique - but if you aren't doing that in lifting with any motion in general, you're not training smart.